Live updates

A Palestinian man uses a sling to hurl a stone towards Israeli troops during clashes earlier this month. Credit: Reuters

There is only a peace process at all at the moment, because it is attached to an American life support machine. The US Secretary of State John Kerry has been to the Middle East more than a dozen times in the last nine months, trying to push the sides closer towards to an agreement.

We know Mr Kerry has spoken to President Abbas expressing his dissappointment with the Hamas deal. Kerry has expressed his frustration over the situation quite openly in the last few months with what he sees as a lack of commitment on both sides to a peace agreement.

The big fear is that he will decide enough is enough and he will turn off that life support machine and widespread violence will follow.

In the wake of a Palestinian unity deal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he would never negotiate with a Palestinian government "backed by a terrorist organization" committed to Israel's destruction.

"The government of Israel will not hold negotiations with a Palestinian government that is backed by Hamas, a terror organisation that calls for Israel's destruction," he is quoted as saying in an official government release.